Gusto
Gusto Pricing
Gusto pricing from the vendor’s own pricing page: 4 plans, cost by headcount, and the extra fees to budget for.
- starting price
- $49/mo + $6/employee
Gusto plans
Simple
$6/employee/mo + $49/mo base
Monthly
- Unlimited payrolls per month
- Tax filings and payments
- Basic PTO policies and holiday pay
Plus
$12/employee/mo + $80/mo base
Monthly
- Time tracking and scheduling
- Unlimited next day pay
- Multi-state payroll
Premium
$22/employee/mo + $180/mo base
Monthly
- Premium Account Support
- HR guidance and tools
- Gusto Business Compliance
Solo
$6/employee/mo + $49/mo base
Monthly
- Compliant self-pay and automatic tax filing
- Reasonable salary calculator
- S corp election and compliance
Price at a glance
Starting base fee
$49/mo
Starting price per employee
$6/employee/mo
Pricing model
Base fee + per employee
Price transparency
Published
Free trial
No
Free plan
No
Gusto cost by company size
- Simple$49/mo base + $6/employee/mo
- Plus$80/mo base + $12/employee/mo
- Premium$180/mo base + $22/employee/mo
- Solo$49/mo base + $6/employee/mo
| Employees | Simple | Plus | Premium | Solo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $55/mo$1,980 over 3 yrs | $92/mo$3,312 over 3 yrs | $202/mo$7,272 over 3 yrs | $55/mo$1,980 over 3 yrs |
| 5 | $79/mo$2,844 over 3 yrs | $140/mo$5,040 over 3 yrs | $290/mo$10,440 over 3 yrs | $79/mo$2,844 over 3 yrs |
| 10 | $109/mo$3,924 over 3 yrs | $200/mo$7,200 over 3 yrs | $400/mo$14,400 over 3 yrs | $109/mo$3,924 over 3 yrs |
| 25 | $199/mo$7,164 over 3 yrs | $380/mo$13,680 over 3 yrs | $730/mo$26,280 over 3 yrs | $199/mo$7,164 over 3 yrs |
| 50 | $349/mo$12,564 over 3 yrs | $680/mo$24,480 over 3 yrs | $1,280/mo$46,080 over 3 yrs | $349/mo$12,564 over 3 yrs |
| 100 | $649/mo$23,364 over 3 yrs | $1,280/mo$46,080 over 3 yrs | $2,380/mo$85,680 over 3 yrs | $649/mo$23,364 over 3 yrs |
List prices before discounts and add-ons.
Extra and hidden costs
Implementation fee
NoneNo implementation fee is listed.
Next-Day pay add-on on Simple
$15/mo + $3/mo per person (included in Plus and Premium)
Same-day pay
$90 per payroll on Simple and Plus (included in Premium)
Instant pay
$100 per payroll on Simple and Plus (included in Premium)
State tax registration
Pricing varies by state
Global contractor payments
$5 per payment to US-based bank accounts; foreign exchange rates may vary
R&D tax credits
15% of identified tax credits
Time & Attendance Plus on Simple
$6/mo per person after free trial
Gusto Business Compliance
$85/mo per state, annual contract (included in Premium)
Remote I-9
$20 per submission (included in Premium)
Is it worth the price?
56th percentileGusto at $199/mo — the category median (list price per month at 25 employees, 9 payroll software products with published prices).
At 25 employees, Gusto lists at $199 a month. Of the 9 payroll software products with published prices, 4 cost less, 1 cost the same and 3 cost more.
Price comparison
| Product | Starting price | Pricing model | Pricing details |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $17/mo + $4/employee/mo | Base fee + per employee | Patriot Payroll pricing |
 | $20/mo + $4/employee/mo | Base fee + per employee | What SurePayroll costs |
 | $39/mo + $5/employee/mo | Base fee + per employee | Paychex Flex plans and prices |
 | $35/mo + $6/employee/mo | Base fee + per employee | Square Payroll pricing |
 Gusto | $49/mo + $6/employee/mo | Base fee + per employee | Gusto pricing |
 | Quote only | Quote only | ADP RUN pricing |
Lowest published list price per month, cheapest first at 25 employees; quote-only products show no price.
Gusto price comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does Gusto cost?
Gusto costs $49 per month plus $6 per person on Simple and Solo, $80 plus $12 on Plus, and $180 plus $22 on Premium. US contractors are billed at the per-person rate only in months they are paid.
Is Gusto free?
No. Gusto lists paid plans only and publishes no free trial of payroll. Creating an account is free, and billing starts when you run your first payroll.
What fees does Gusto charge beyond the plan price?
Add-ons include same-day pay at $90 and instant pay at $100 per payroll on Simple and Plus, Business Compliance at $85 per month per state, and Priority Support at $30 plus $3 per person. Gusto charges a $100 fee if funds are short at the payroll debit deadline.
What do alternatives to Gusto cost?
At 25 employees Gusto lists at $199 a month; the lowest-priced alternatives compared here are Patriot Payroll ($117, $82 less), SurePayroll ($120, $79 less), and Paychex Flex ($164, $35 less), at list price.
Does Gusto offer a free trial?
No. Gusto does not list a free trial.
How much does Gusto cost per month?
On its lowest published plan ($49 plus $6 per head), Gusto comes to about $109 a month for 10 employees and $349 for 50, at list price before add-ons and taxes; the Premium plan lists at $22/employee/mo + $180/mo base. How that compares across the category: What payroll software costs.
Does Gusto charge an implementation fee?
No. Gusto states no implementation fee.
Which Gusto plan should I choose?
Simple ($6/employee/mo + $49/mo base): unlimited payrolls per month and tax filings and payments. Plus ($12/employee/mo + $80/mo base): time tracking and scheduling and unlimited next day pay. Premium ($22/employee/mo + $180/mo base): premium Account Support and HR guidance and tools. Solo ($6/employee/mo + $49/mo base): compliant self-pay and automatic tax filing and reasonable salary calculator.
Is Gusto cheaper than Paychex Flex?
No, at list price. For 25 employees Gusto comes to $199 a month against $164 for Paychex Flex. Features, support and contract terms side by side: Gusto vs Paychex Flex.
Who makes Gusto?
Gusto (payroll software) is sold by Gusto, Inc., founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, US. Its plans and contract terms are set by Gusto, Inc.; see the Gusto, Inc. company profile for the products it sells and its ownership.
Get exact Gusto quotes for your team
List prices are a starting point. Type your headcount in the calculator for an estimate, then answer up to 5 quick questions to see Gusto beside the 2 alternatives that fit you best; if a provider works with us, you can ask it for an exact quote.
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What changed
PricingGusto no longer lists a free trial.
PlansGusto now lists the Solo plan.
PublishedFirst published.
Vendor? Reach buyers comparing Gusto